Inside The Nets

Why Brooklyn's G-League affiliate is more important than some people think

Brooklyn’s G-League Affiliate, the Long Island Nets, have elevated their importance.

Peter Sunjic

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Across the NBA, 29 out of 30 teams have G-League affiliated squads, with only the Phoenix Suns lacking a team. Brooklyn has a G-League team called the Long Island Nets that has continued to grow into a vital part of development within the organization.

The G-League is not only the home of players looking to make the roster but also a way to develop younger players and give them the game time they need to perform with the senior squad.

“The G-League right now is so deep. I remember the first time I started following the G-League, you could say there were two to three NBA-level players on each team. Now, there's five to six or five to seven NBA-caliber players,” GTV Hoops Founder Jeffrey Kee said on the Nets’ Year 1 video series.

The Nets have benefited from having the G-League team

Brooklyn has used Long Island to the fullest potential, as multiple rotation members played plenty of minutes for the G-League Nets. Nic Claxton and Cameron Thomas are starters for the Brooklyn Nets, but they had experience playing in Long Island as rookies.

The same goes for Day’Ron Sharpe, who came in as a raw prospect but has grown into one of the best backup big men in the league. Brooklyn hopes for that to happen to the three 2023/24 rookies, Dariq Whitehead, Noah Clowney, and Jalen Wilson.

Wilson has earned rotational minutes in the later stages of coach Jacque Vaughn's tenure, but that energetic playstyle will help him earn interim head coach Kevin Ollie’s respect. Expect him and Clowney to get rotational minutes for the next 28 games, considering they play the energetic style that Ollie wants to see.

Long Island will continue its harmonious relationship with Brooklyn

With the Nets always getting young players with potential, Long Island is the destination for most of the season. Playing well in the developmental league could elevate themselves to the next level.

General manager Sean Marks will keep a close eye on the G-League because the Long Island Nets have developed talented players for a long while, which will continue to prosper as the seasons progress.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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